Michael Okunloro | Elevate Your Style

If you want to know who you truly are, start by paying attention to your hobbies and pastimes. Your unique identity is often buried in your passion, and passion always leaves clues.

Think about it: what could you talk about all day without getting bored? What do you spend hours watching or researching on YouTube? What do your friends notice about you without you even trying? That is passion whispering and sometimes shouting at you.

Do not ignore it. Too many people dismiss their passion by saying, “I do not know what mine is.” But if you trace your hobbies and pastimes, you will see a pattern.

For example, when I was a child, I did not realize what passion was. At age five, I would come home from church, stand on our table, and preach with a toothbrush as my microphone. At seven, I begged my cousin to teach me how to knot a tie because I was fascinated with looking sharp. By secondary school, I was known for neatness, confidence, and speaking in front of crowds. Back then, I thought these were just little habits but they were actually early signs of who I was becoming.

That is why I want to challenge you: look back at your own childhood hobbies and current pastimes. What excites you? What frustrates you? What do you keep coming back to even when no one is watching? That is your passion and it is more than just a pastime. It is a road map to your future.

So the next time someone asks, “What is your favorite hobby or pastime?” do not just give a casual answer. See it as an opportunity to uncover a deeper truth about who you are.

What is your favorite hobby or pastime?